An' when times was hard, he'd say to my mother, 'Wealthy, we won't sell the di'monds yet a while.

Not this time, Wealthy; but they're thar, you know, my woman, they're thar!' And when my mother'd say, 'Whar to goodness be they, Thomas ?' he'd only chuckle an' laugh an' shake his head.

Then thar was his story about the ruby necklace.

How we youngsters used to open our eyes at that! Believed it too, every word of it." "Oh! what was it ?" cried Hilda.

"Tell me, and I will believe it too!" "He used to tell of a Malay pirate," said the farmer, "that he fit and licked somewhere off in the South Seas,--when he sailed the 'Lively Polly,' that was.